Key Events

Match report

Really enjoyed that. Entertainment has been in short supply at Villa Park this season - and so have wins. So to get both, and to see a mutual appreciation society between the kids and the fans was really heartening.

Full time

Aston Villa 3 West Ham United 2

Villa hold onto win a very entertaining game. As my colleague Gregg observed as he crafts his match report, ‘It makes a change to have an eventful match to write about’. It does indeed, young Gregory. Not only that but it gives Villa’s promotion hopes a major boost.

20:55Mat Kendrick

Have a word, ref

Before the latest goal and the scuffle there was an enjoyable bit of audience participation.

“Have a word, ref” shouted a squeaky, soon-to-be-breaking voice from the stands as Vashon Neufville had a bit of a sulk near the touchline. It came after he was penalised for fouling Blackett-Taylor.

20:51Mat Kendrick

Kevin Toner sent off

The Villa defender is red-carded after getting embroiled in a brawl on the far side of the field. Where are the TV replays when you need them? It went off a couple of times and the referee and his assistant had to step in to separate warring players. Could easily have been a couple of red cards, but Toner is the one who is punished. Not condoning violence, but the under-21s showed more fight then than their seniors have done all season

20:49Gregg Evans

Huge celebrations

It looks like that will be the winner for Villa. The entire team pile on the goalscorer, Blackett-Taylor, and huge cheers echo around the ground.

20:47Mat Kendrick

3-2 Villa!

Corey Blackett-Taylor proves that it is not just West Ham players with double-barrel names who can score. He restores Villa’s lead in the 88th minute. Pouncing from just outside the six yard box.

20:45Gregg Evans

Grealish off injured

Looks like Grealish has a slight injury as he departs for Mooney. The 20-year-old heads straight down the tunnel and laps up every second of the warm applause from the crowd. Fingers crossed his injury is only minor.

20:41Gregg Evans

Green departs

Green will be pleased with his goal tonight as he departs for O’Hare. Not the best of performances from the left-winger but still a decent enough showing.

20:38Mat Kendrick

2-2

Jahmal Hector-Ingram scores A 77th minute equaliser. He bursts onto a long ball forward and gets away from the Villa defence. Kevin Toner does his best to get back and put him off, possibly at the risk of a penalty, but the double-barrell-named striker is able to force the ball past Sarkic for a leveller. The Villa fans behind us in the Trinity Road stand give the players a burst of support to encourage them.

20:34Mat Kendrick

Rotterdam or Rotherham

We’ve got a slight break in the action. Time to test out this new chant on you all....

It’s a Beautiful South themed ditty, courtesy of Dale Parkes. You having it Villa fans? Or not?

20:30Mat Kendrick

Take it Easah

Yes, it’s an appalling pun on ‘take it easy’. West Ham respond with a bruising challenge of their own, Marcus Browne leaving Easah Suliman in a heap near the Trinity Road touchline. Few tackles flying in on the wet pitch.

20:29Gregg Evans

Adama's night is over

Blackett-Taylor comes on to replace Adama who has been poor tonight. Hasn’t got involved enough to make an impact.

20:23Mat Kendrick

Crunch!

Aaah, the sounds of reserve team football. A shout of ‘man on’ here, a lone fan grumbling about something there, the loud crunch as Rory Hale goes steaming into a West Ham opponent, win the balls cleanly, send the other man flying and earns a generous round of applause from the fans.

20:20

Villa fans reactions

20:20Mat Kendrick

The future?

20:18Mat Kendrick

Adama does some defending!

An encouraging moment. Adama makes an effort to carry out some defensive duties. He gets across to the right-back area in an attempt to stop the cross. He doesn’t actually stop ot and Reece Oxford volleys just off target, but at least the effort was there from Villa’s Spanish winger.

20:15Mat Kendrick

Here's a clip of the opening goal

Great play by Grealish, neat ball from Davis, composed finish by Abdo

20:15

Hale goes close

Villa’s centre midfielder thought he had got his name on the scoresheet with a shot from distance but it sails just wide. Hale has looked quite confident in the middle today without doing too much of note.

20:10Mat Kendrick

Goal! 2-1 Villa

Green scores to restore Villa’s lead on 52 minutes. Davis came close to a goal himself but his shot from close range was saved by the keeper. When the ball rebounded back to Davis he kept his composure and slotted the ball home from close range.

19:52Mat Kendrick

Who ate all the pies?

Nobody yet, but I’ll have a steak and kidney please!

19:51Mat Kendrick

Nice to see

19:48

Half-time: Villa 1-1 West Ham

Huge cheers from those who have turned up tonight to watch the game as Villa depart down the tunnel at the break.

19:44Mat Kendrick

Weather report

At least the rain has calmed down a bit. It is now more of an intermittent drizzle. Intermittent Drizzle, that sounds like one of those rapper types my colleague Gregg Evans listens to... That’ll teach him for continually calling me Kendrick Lamar!

Kendrick Lamar, O2 Academy 2

19:42Gregg Evans

What a miss!

Hendrie crosses into the box for Browne who has the goal at his mercy, but he shoots down into the ground and his effort flies wide. A big let-off for Villa there.

19:41Gregg Evans

Quiet evening for Green so far

Villa’s No.11 hasn’t had much of an impact in this game yet. He’s struggled to beat his man and has just shot over from distance. The teenager seems to be getting frustrated, too. Patience, Andre. It will come.

19:40Mat Kendrick

Parachute payments

Inevitable really that cuts have to be made at Villa. It is a crying shame for so many hard working staff that their jobs are at risk because of failures on the field and off it that are nothing to do with the way they have done their jobs.

We’ve had a look at what Villa’s parachute payments will be in the Championship and how much they miss out on by departing the soon-to-be-even-more-lucrative Premier League

Adama flies round the back

The pace-ace looks a threat every time he’s got the ball. The West Ham defence just can’t contain him. He needs to get more involved, though. His latest moment of action could have been missed if you blinked. He flew past Page and crossed into the box but the Hammers cut it out.

19:31Mat Kendrick

Double trouble

Neat link up between Green and Adama (are you watching Eric?) creates a promising opening for the Spanish speedster. He works the ball onto his left foot but his hard, low drive is beaten away by Raphaek Spiegel in the Hammers goal. The ball breaks to Adama again and he has a second pop at it, but it is stopped by a defender.

19:25Mat Kendrick

Statement on the threat of redundancies

Aston Villa Football Club can confirm it has updated all staff on the proposed changes to the Club structure in order to put it back on a firm footing.

These changes will result in a headcount reduction but every effort will be made through a voluntary scheme, to mitigate as much as is possible, the need for compulsory redundancies.

The objective is to secure a sound financial platform from which the Club can rebuild for the benefit of the fans, staff and sponsors.

We recognise this is an extremely difficult time for all staff and the Club will offer support to all staff affected.

19:23Mat Kendrick

1-1

West Ham equaliser on 20 minutes.

Stephen Hendrie emulates his cousin by scoring in front of the Holte End, albeit an empty Holte End. He stole in at the front post to convert a cross from the right by Marcus Browne.